John r



(Nd Modl.)

J. R. GARFIELD. SHAFT SUPPORT FOR VEHICLES.

No. 544,527. Patented Aug. '13, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN R. GARFIELD, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOARTHUR N. WILSON, OF SAME PLACE.

SHAFT-SUPPORT FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 544,527, dated August13, 1895.

Application filed May 16, 1895- Serial No. 549,540. (No model.)

To aZZ whom iv may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN R. GARFIELD, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Indianapolis,inthe countyof Marion and State ofIndiana, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements inShaft-Supports for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to shaft-supports for vehicles, whereby the shaftsare held up off the ground, rendering the operation of hitching lessdifficult, and also relieving the animal of the weight of the shafts.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved shaft-supportwhich shall possess superior advantages with respect to efficiency inoperation.

The invention consists in the novel construction andcombination of partshereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improvedshaft-support, showing the manner it is applied to a vehicle. Fig. 2 isa longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the positionof the parts when theshafts are letdown. Fig. 4 represents, in perspective, the trigger, thesleeve, the bent arm, and the clamp.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates the front axleof a wagon or other vehicle; 2, the bolster; 3, the springs; 4, theshaft, and 5 the cross-bar connecting the same near the rear endsthereof, which may be of any ordinary or suitable construction. Securedto the bolster is a bracket 6, provided with an upwardly-extending pinor rod 7, on which is a socket or sleeve 8, formed with a lug 9. Pivotedto this lug is a clamp 10, in which is mounted and held the lower end ofa spring 12, which is curved forwardly and extends to the bar 5, and itsend bent into a loop. This loop is seated between two plates 13 of abracket 14 secured to said bar 5. The plates are provided with apertures15, through which, and also through the loop passes a.

pin 16, by which the spring is secured to the bracket. Also pivoted tothe lugs 9 is a downwardly-extending bent arm 17, having a lug 18 nearits lower end. Pivoted to this lug is a trigger 19, provided withanotcli 19 The upper end of this trigger is connected with the spring 12by a coiled spring 20.

The numeral 21 designates a strap secured to the pin 16 and passingaround the end of the trigger and is adapted to engage with shoulders orlugs 22 on said trigger. Passing through the lower end of the bent arm17 isa set-screw 23, the end of which bears against the socket or sleeve8. By turning this screw itcan be forced toward or away from the socketto Vary the tension of the springs, and also to raise or lower theshafts'to suit animals of different heights. The socket 8 is secured tothe pin by washers 24, and may be adjusted vertically thereon byemploying different sized washers.

The operation is as follows: When in use the trigger is pushed back sothat the lower end of the curved prong will rest in the notch in thetrigger, and the shafts are thus held up off the ground, the springrelieving the horse of the weight of the shafts. In case it is desiredto lower the shafts, the trigger is pulled forward, which will releasethe end of said spring from the notch, when the shafts will fall down;or in case of a horse falling down, the trigger will be actuated by thestrap so as to disengage it from the notch,

thereby obviating liability of the spring being strained. Having thusfully described my invention,

' what I claim is 1. In a shaft support, the combination with thebolster, the shafts and cross bar, the bracket and the pin, of thevertically adjustable socket journaled on said pin, the lugs,

the clamp, the curved spring, the apertured plates and bracket securedto the cross bar of the shafts and the pin; substantially as described.

ger formed with a notch pivoted thereto, the coiled spring connectingsaid spring and trigger, the strap connectingthe said pin and trigger,and the set-screw at the lower end of the angle-plate; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN R. GARFIELD. Witnesses:

EDWIN B. PUGI-I, FRANK S. Fos'rnn.

